Sprocket wheel



April 15, 1941.

O L. STARR ETAL SPROCKET WHEEL Original Filed Aug. 25; 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS H v Osmr L. j-farr wa/fcr firafhe Harmon .S. Eberhard ATTORNE Y.

April 15, 1941. Q STARR ETAL 2,238,347

7 SPROCKET WHEEL Original Filed Aug. 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTORS 01a" 1. .Sfarr WaHer firafing P BY Harman Jifber/mr/ .3 Z a fig M ATTORNEY.

'- Patented Apr. 15, 1941 SPROCKE'I WHEEL Oscar L. Starr, Mission San Jose, and Walter Grotlie, Alameda, Calii'., and Harmon S. Eberhard, Peoria, lll., assignors to Caterpillar Tractor 00., San Leandro, (JaliL, a corporation of California Original application August 25, 1934, Serial No.

741,388. Divided and this application Februcry 27, 1939, Serial No. 258,618

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a sprocket wheel, and more particularly to a driving sprocket wheel in a self-laying endless track mechanism of a track-type vehicle, such as a tractor. The presapplication, Serial No. 741,388 for Endless track mechanism," filed August 25, 1934 now Patent No. 2,168,053.

The problem of, providing a satisfactory end which will have long life, presents many dimculties; and from a consideration of the follow- .ing description of the construction and opera-\ tion of such mechanism, itwill become apparent ing a satisfactory track mechanism of this type. Track-type vehicles, such as tractors, include generally a main frame or which is movably mounted upon a'pair of "spaced endlesstrack mechanisms, by means of pivotal connections and by an equalizing mechanism. The mountihg provides for independent pivotal movement in an upright plane of each track mechanism with respect to the tractor main frame or body; the equalizing means serving toequalize and restrain such movements. In addition to a track or truck frame usually forming part of each track mechanism, each track mech-- anism includes an endless track about each track frame; and track rollers or wheels Journaled on l-the trackframe run on the ground stretch oi the endless track to sup rt the weight of-the tractor thereon.

H The tractor is propelled over thetracks by a pair of driving sprockets, each or which is driven by final drive mechanism and 3 is at the rear'oi' the. associated track frame; the sprockets serving to pick up the tracks-as the .track frames of the tractor are propelled thereover. At the front of each track frame, an idler as it is being continuously laid in front of the track rollers; the upper stretch of the track between the driving sprocket and the idler wheel being supported, it desirable, by track carrier rollers. The *front idler of each, track mecha- 4 nism is usually movably mounted on the assoelated track frame so that it can move if the track becomes clogged, to prevent breakage; such movement of the idler being usually conent application is 'a division of our copending less track mechanism for track-type vehicles, 10

steering or the tractor in theusual manner by disengaginmthe drive to a selected track mech-.

anism. To accomplish sharp turning in steering, track brakes are preferably provided so that each track mechanism can be locked against ireemovement when the drive therefor is disengaged. It is, thus seen that when a trackx type tractor is turned, the locked track mechathat many factors must be considered in evolvl5 nism is subjected to twisting forces by. virtue of trolled by a suitable recoil mechanism. Each 0 endless track comprises a series of link assembliesi-pivotally connected together and providing spaced rails which are engaged by the track rollers and the front idler wheel; and the link the endsoi' the links of adjacent link assemblies,

each link is usually formed with an intermediate portion of full rail width, and with end portions ot reduced width. In the connected link assemblies, the links are so arranged as to provide butt-lap rail Jointsyeach Joint being characterized by overlapping of the link end portions of reduced width. The pivotal connections between the track link assemblies usually comprise a bushing connected to the reduced width end portions of the links of each assembly and a pin connected to the adjacent reduced width end portions of the adjacent link assembly; each pin being Journaled in the bushing of the adjacent track link assembly. Thus, each endless track comprises an endless series of pairs of oppositely spaced links pivotally connected endto end and I wheel is provided to support and guide the track 40 111318 p e r il f r ment with the the bushings located between the rails, of as large diameter as is practicably possible to provide large bearing surfaces for engagement with the driving sprocket so as to enhance wear and provide strength; and to permit bushings of such large diameter without increasing the overall depth of the track, which would result in assemblies are engaged by the associated drlv- 55 increase in weight and raising of the pitch line of the track, we provide bushings only of enlarged diameter between the links and having ends of reduced diameter fitting within the links. ,In order to take full advantage of the enlarged .tliameter bushings, we provide tooth spaces on the driving sprocket which are of substantially full bearing width, namely an active bearing width substantially equal to the distance between the inner faces of the links forming the spaced rails.

For a given size of track mechanism, in which enlarged bushings are employed, having ends of reduced diameter which do not chan the pitch of the link assemblies (1. e. the dist nce between adjacent pivotal axes), the tooth space on the sprocket must be increased. To provide this increase of space, the sprocket of the particular track mechanism illustrated by the drawings, is formed with a less number of active teeth. Preferably, an even number of active teeth is provided, all of the teeth being active in succession.

The invention has for its objects, among others, the provision oflan improved final drive sprocket wheel adapted to have full bearing contact with the link connecting bushings in an endless track mechanism, which is of sturdy conconnections between the tractor body or main frame and the endless track mechanisms. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical. longitudin section through an endless track mechanism, the endless track being omitted and the sprocket end of the mechanism being shown in elevation.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate details of the track sprocket construction, and are fragmentary sections taken respectively in planes indicated by the lines 4-4, 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section through the connection between links of the endless track.

The track-type tractor disclosed herein, for the purpose of illustrating an environment in which our endless track mechanism finds applicability, includes body portion or main frame 2| (Figs. 1 and 2) of any suitable construction, which is movably mounted on similar opposite track mechanisms 22 by means of aligned pivotal connections adjacent one end, and an equalizing mechanism adjacent the other. At the rear of body 2| (Fig. 2) axially aligned stub shafts 22 and 24 are secured therein for providing the pivotal connections with the track mechanisms. Each track mechanism." includes track or truck frame 26 having outwardly diverging rear end portions 21 and 28 providing spaced bearing connections with a stub shaft. Track frame 26 of the left-'- hand track mechanism is hingedly connected to stub shaft 24; and the right-hand track frame is similarly hinged to shaft 23. Adjacent its front end, body 2| is supported on equalizing mecha. nism 29, preferably in the form of a spring, ex-

Each endless track mechanism includes an endless self-laying track supported around the needciated track frame, by means of a front idler wheel mounted at the front of the track frame and adrivingsprocket atthe rear thereof; the weight of the tractor being transmitted to the ground stretch of the track through a plurality of weight bearing track rollers running on spacedv rails of the track. The driving sprocket serves to propel the tractor over the endless track. and to pick up the track and feed itsupper reachforwardly over the front idler wheel which guides the re-laying thereof. If desired, the upper stretch of the track between the front idler and drive sprocket can be supported by suitable track carrier rollers.

An endless track lI/(Fig. 1) extends around Housing :0 is in the form of a yoke for slidsbly.

mounting front idler wheel "on frame 2|. as described more specifically hereinafter, to provide for movement of the idler under control of a suitable spring recoil mechanism 4| should the track become clogged; such recoil mechanism being preferably of the typedisclosed in our assignee's patent to Eberhard No. 2,022,079, dated November 26, 1935.

Driving\ sprockets-l2 for the respective track mechanisms are driven from the tractor engine through suitable transmission mechanism controlled by gear. shift lever 4|, main clutch lever 42, steering clutch levers "48, and brake pedals 44. .The construction of the controls and the transmission mechanism forms no part. of the present invention, and will not be described in detail. i

Each driving sprocket is provided with an even number of separated teeth spaced apart a distance equal to the pitch (distance between adjacent pivotal axes) of the track links; the space I between adjacent teeth or the tooth space being of sumcient size to receive a track bushing at the most desirable angle, without-interference from the non-working face of thetooth cooperating to form such tooth space. Moreover, a full width tooth and root face (the root face being the inner face subjected to radialpressure upon engage- -ment of a bushing in the tooth space) of each tooth space are provided to'engage substantially tending transversely of body 2i and having its serving to restrict and equalize such oscillations.

a the' entire width of track bushing available be- .tween the links, forming the spaced rails of the track; only sufiicient clearance existing between the end faces of the teeth andthe inner edges of the rails to allow freedom of movement. Sprocket 22 (Fig. 3 includes rim portion 4| having a plurality of spaced apart tooth spaces 44 thereon. Each tooth space is formed by tooth working face 41, inner face or root face 42, and non-working tooth face 49. v

To enable strength of each of the separated teeth, but yet lightness of weight of the sprocket each'tooth is formed of spaced-tooth projections 50 braced by'integral reenforcing web or flange 5| positioned in the space between the tooth projections. Hence, workin face 41 of each tooth, which is of full beari dth (Fig. 4), is adequately braced. Tooth space bottom or root face .48 (Fig. 4) absorbs radial thrust which occurs when a track bushing engages the face. Face 48 extends transversely substantially the full width between the links of the endless track, to provide a full bearing surface with the track bushing described hereinafter, and is braced at each end or laterally overhanging portion thereof, We radially and laterally extending reenforcing web-or flange I2. Sprocket 32 is preferably constructed as a unitary metalcasting which is subsequently heat treated strength. During the casting and before heat treatment of the sprocket, end portions II (in-- dicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4) of root face 48 and the inner portions of tooth faces 41 and 49 are formed initially depressed at a slight angle of about 4 degrees with respect to the central portion 54; so that after heat treatment, end portions 53, by virtue of differing rates of .metal expansion caused by the presence of flanges 52, are raised substantially even to. the central" portion 54 to provide an even working to provide for surfaceand full bearing for the track bushings. I

' Thusfeach tooth space is characterized by initial end deformations removed by heat treatment. a

Track links I01 and I08 (Fig. 6) of each assembly are symmetrical with respect to each other.

to thereby form left-hand and right-hand links,

respectively, and one pair of reduced width end portions (preferably the front end) of a pair of links forming a link assembly are at the inner sides of the links, and are overlapped or embraced by outer reduced width end portions at the rear of the links of the adjacent pair of links.

to provide full width rail joints. of butt-lap con-.

struction. I The inner reduced width end portions are connected by bushing I II press-fitted in such portions; and the outer reduced end portions are connected by pin Ill journaled in bushing transversely across said rim ing ill to provide the pivotal connection between adjacent pairs of links. Pin H4 is longer than bushing H3, so that the pin ends can be pressfltted in the outer reduced width end portions: and bushings iii are of enlarged diameter between the rails. However, increased height of the link and consequent increase in weight thereof, is avoidedby providing reduced diameter ends I88 on each bushing H3; such ends being the parts of the bushing press-fitted in the links of eachppair. Also, reduced bushing ends I enable the pitch line to be maintained a minimum practical distance above the ground.

From the preceding description, it is seen that the flnal drive sprocket of our invention having full bearing teeth and which is reenforced in the manner described provides a strong construction adapted to hav a long life, and that full advantage of this feature is taken by having large diameter bushings adapted to engage such full bearing teeth.

Therefore, we claim as our invention:

-1. A driving sprocket for a self-laying endless track comprising arim portion; separated teeth integral with said rim portion and providing tooth spaces therebetween, each-tooth being of a relatively lightbut strong construction and ineluding spaced substantially radial projections' and a reenforcing flange between such projections; the root faces ofisaid tooth spaces being of substantially full width to provide full bearing for bushings which connect links forming part of an endless track; and additional flanges adjacent said rim portion and extending transversely with respect to said teeh flanges for reenforcing the ends of the root races of the tooth spaces.

2. A driving sprocket for a self-laying endless track comprising spokes; a rim portion integral with said spokes; separated teeth integral with said rim portion and providing tooth spaces therebetween, each tooth being of relatively light but strong construction' and including spaced substantially radial projections extending transversely across said rim portion, and a reenforcing flange extending transversely with respect to and between said projections and integral therewith and with said rim portion: the root faces of said tooth spaces being of substantially said rim portion, each tooth being of relativelylight but strong construction and including spaced substantially radial projections extendportion, and a reenforcing' flange extending transversely with respect to and between said projections and integral therewith and with said rim portion; the root faces of said tooth spaces being of substantially full width to provide full hearing for bushings which connect links forming part of an endless track; and additional flanges integral with said rim portion extending transversely with respect to said teeth flanges for reenforcing the ends of the root faces of the tooth spaces.

4. A driving sprocket for a self-laying endless track comprising spokes; a circular substantially even rim portion integral with said spokes: separated teeth projecting from and integral with said rim portion andproviding tooth spaces therebetween, the root faces of said tooth spaces being substantially even with the said rim portion. each tooth being of relatively light but strong construction and including spaced substantially radial projections extending transversely across said rim portion. and a reenforcing flange extending transversely with respect to and between said projections and integral therewith and with said rim portion: the root faces of said tooth spaces being of substantially full width to provide full bearing for bushings which connect links forming part of an endless track; and additional flanges integral with and only on the sides of said rim portion extending transversely with respect to said teeth flanges for reenforcing the ends of the root faces 0f.the tooth spaces. OSCAR L..STAR.R. WALTER GRO'IEE. HARMON S. EBERHARD.

forming part of an endless periphery of- 

